US central bankers said the recent tax cuts could juice the economy more than expected in the near term, meaning further interest rate hikes likely will be needed, according to meeting minutes released Wednesday.

Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya) has announced its commercial banking business strategy under a new medium-term business plan covering 2018-2020, with an aspiration to become a main operating bank for corporate customers and small and medium-sized enterprises.

GROWTH in the country’s economy is on track to accelerate this year after a strong final-quarter performance to close out last year, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) said yesterday.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) on Monday clarified its planned new regulations regarding licensing in the banking sector, after many people had mistakenly understood that it would be granting a new banking licence to the 7-11 convenience-store chain.

Talad Invoice, a lending platform initiated by a fintech startup, is expected to grow at an exponential rate this year, following two years of peer-to-peer lending using invoices as loans collateral, said Watewiboon Pumipue, chief executive officer of D90 Capital Co, which operates the financial platform.

Fintech and banking are often touted as competitors or rivals and there is much speculation about the industry’s future in the same way that music downloads disrupted the record industry and Uber is disrupting established transport industries.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is expected to raise the policy rate at a gradual pace this year, given the upward trend for global interest rates and consistent Thai economic expansion, according to TMB Analytics.

Kasikornbank has teamed up with Major Cineplex Group and Major Bowl Group Co Ltd to offer a special promotion to customers of its K Plus mobile banking application who use QR code for payment. Customers can buy a movie ticket or popcorn set and beverage or use karaoke, bowling or ice-skating facilities at a special price of only Bt18 by clicking Reward Plus to get redemption rights.

The 2018 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is set to kick off from March 8 to 11 on the banks of Chao Phraya River, next to Anantara Riverside Bangkok, with a full range of fun elephant festivities for the whole family.